glitter
Americanverb (used without object)
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to reflect light with a brilliant, sparkling luster; sparkle with reflected light.
-
to make a brilliant show.
noun
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a sparkling reflected light or luster.
- Synonyms:
- sparkle
-
showy splendor.
-
small glittering ornaments.
verb
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(of a hard, wet, or polished surface) to reflect light in bright flashes
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(of light) to be reflected in bright flashes
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(usually foll by with) to be decorated or enhanced by the glamour (of)
the show glitters with famous actors
noun
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sparkle or brilliance
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show and glamour
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tiny pieces of shiny decorative material used for ornamentation, as on the skin
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Also called: silver thaw. ice formed from freezing rain
Related Words
See flash.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of glitter
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse glitra; compare Old English glitenian, German gleissen “to shine, glitter”
Explanation
A glitter is a sparkle or flash of light. To glitter is to gleam or shine, as if glistening with moisture. Glitter isn’t just shiny stuff you use in craft projects. When used as a noun, glitter can refer to any kind of gleam, glint, spark, or flash of light, like the flicker of a firefly at night. This word can also be used as a verb. An ornate golden goblet glitters brightly — as does anything coated in a thick layer of glitter.
Vocabulary lists containing glitter
"The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet"
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Towers Falling
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Jess and Layla's Astronomical Assignment
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the Netflix documentary Glitter and Gold, which follows the international figure skating tour, she said: "I know my boyfriend 100%. I know him."
From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026
The top three-placed ice dancers in Milan also starred in the recent Netflix docuseries "Glitter and Gold: Ice Dancing".
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
His bestselling novels included “The New Centurions,” “The Glitter Dome,” “The Choirboys” and “Black Marble.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2025
“Time to whip out the Glitter & Hellfire,” he added, as shown on screenshots posted by Libs of Tiktok.
From Washington Times • Nov. 21, 2023
Maybe they should have picked up Glitter Man’s existence from Frog.
From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
